An eight-company consortium led by Airbus is set to launch a new German-backed initiative to develop a sixth-generation fighter jet, filling the void left by the collapse of the Franco-German-Spanish Future Combat Air System (FCAS) programme. The group, dubbed Team Gen 6, will be formally announced on Thursday in Berlin during the ILA air show, according to the aerospace giant.
The consortium has already submitted a position paper to German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius, outlining its vision for a next-generation combat aircraft. In the document, the companies call on the German government to ensure that contracts are awarded fully and on time by the second half of 2026, as reported by AFP. A source close to the project indicated that the agreement could be signed privately by the participating firms as early as Wednesday.
Team Gen 6 includes, alongside Airbus, the European missile manufacturer MBDA and six German companies: Hensoldt, Diehl Defence, MTU Aero Engines, Liebherr, Autoflug, and Rohde & Schwarz. The project is expected to be largely led from Germany, reflecting Berlin's determination to maintain a sovereign capability in advanced combat aviation.
Fallout from FCAS
The launch of Team Gen 6 comes just days after Berlin and Paris abandoned the FCAS programme on Monday, following months of escalating tensions between Airbus and French manufacturer Dassault. The rift came to a head in the summer of 2025 when Dassault pushed for greater control over the project, frustrating politicians in Berlin and executives at Airbus. FCAS, launched in 2017 and joined by Spain in 2019, had been hailed as a flagship of European defence cooperation. Its collapse is widely seen as a setback for efforts to strengthen the continent's military capabilities amid growing security threats from Russia.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Minister Pistorius described the Team Gen 6 proposal as conceivable and one possibility, but stressed that Berlin is also weighing alternatives. These include purchasing additional US-made F-35 fighter jets or joining other international aircraft development programmes. Pistorius noted that talks with various stakeholders on the matter have been underway for months.
The demise of FCAS has exposed deep industrial rivalries within Europe's defence sector. While France has traditionally championed Dassault's role in such projects, Germany has increasingly sought to build up its own aerospace and defence industrial base. The new German-backed initiative signals a shift towards a more national—or at least German-led—approach, though it remains to be seen whether other European partners will join.
The Team Gen 6 consortium is urging the German government to move quickly. The position paper stresses the need for a clear timeline and stable funding to avoid the delays and disputes that plagued FCAS. The companies argue that a timely decision is critical to maintain Europe's technological edge in combat aviation and to reduce dependence on non-European suppliers.
For now, the future of European fighter jet development hangs in the balance. While Team Gen 6 offers a concrete proposal, the German government's final decision will shape the continent's defence landscape for decades to come. As Germany's defence resolve is tested by fiscal constraints and competing priorities, the outcome of this project will be closely watched in Brussels, Paris, and beyond.
